A FRESH legal battle has erupted between the two business partners who launched Liverpool’s dance company Cream.

Former colleagues Stuart Davenport and James Barton were already locked in a struggle over the price of Mr Davenport’s shares in the entertainment company.

Now, it has emerged that a new disagreement is likely to end up in Liverpool’s County Court.

Mr Davenport claims he is owed up to £27,000 interest from Cream Holdings from the sale of the company’s original offices on Slater Street.

The 62-year-old says he took out a director’s loan around 1993-1994 to acquire the building in the former Mello Mello bar.

Mr Davenport and Mr Barton became 50/50 Cream shareholders and directors in 1997 before, in 2001, Ingenious Ventures Limited put a £5m stake into the company in return for a 48% shareholding.

When Cream Holdings was formed, the Slater Street premises became the property of the Liverpool company. In August 2004, Mr Davenport was “removed as a director” which has led to the legal fight at London’s High Court over the price of his shares.

He says the Slater Street base was sold by Cream to property company Frensons in 2004 for a figure around £175,000.

Mr Davenport has received £23,000 back from his ex-firm to reimburse him for the director’s loan taken out in the 1990s.

But the businessman is arguing that up to £27,000 of interest has accrued on the property which remains outstanding and payable to him.

A court application has been lodged and Cream has responded informing Mr Davenport of their intention to dispute the claim.

The company did not wish to comment today.

In the shares battle, a judge in December ruled that a £290,000 evaluation by Cream of Mr Davenport’s stake was not binding upon him.

Cream Holdings Ltd must now agree a fresh evaluation with the 62-year-old.

Mr Davenport says he is still waiting for the “disclosure” of financial documents to begin to agree upon a fresh summation which he argues should run into millions of pounds due to Cream’s growing worldwide branding and reputation. The company strongly refute his claim.

At one stage, the Wolstenholme Square company offered Mr Davenport just £50 for his 26.7% stake.

After joining with Mr Barton, Mr Davenport stepped down from his executive role and became a non-executive director on a salary of £80,000 a year.